[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34830-34831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17019]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 123 / Friday, June 26, 1998 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 34830]]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 95-CE-64-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE Models 
TB20, and TB21 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) that would apply to certain SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE (Socata) 
Models TB20 and TB21 airplanes. The proposed action would require 
repetitively inspecting the main landing gear (MLG) attachment bearing 
(using a dye penetrant method) for cracks, and if cracks are found, 
replacing the bearing. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness 
authority for France. The actions specified by the proposed AD are 
intended to prevent cracks in the MLG attachment bearing, which could 
result in collapse of the main landing gear during taxi and landing 
operations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 20, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 95-CE-64-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, 
Kansas City, Missouri 64106. Comments may be inspected at this location 
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, holidays excepted.
    Service information that applies to the proposed AD may be obtained 
from the SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE, Socata Product Support, Aeroport 
Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes, B P 930, 65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; telephone: 
62.41.74.26; facsimile: 62.41.74.32; or the Product Support Manager, 
SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE, North Perry Airport, 7501 Pembroke Road, 
Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023; telephone: (954) 964-6877; facsimile: 
(954) 964-1668. This information also may be examined at the Rules 
Docket at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1201 Walnut Street, suite 
900, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 426-6934; facsimile: 
(816) 426-2169.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned 
with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 95-CE-64-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: 
Rules Docket No. 95-CE-64-AD, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106.

Discussion

    The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the 
airworthiness authority for France, notified the FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on certain Socata Models TB20 and TB21 airplanes. 
The DGAC reports that some MLG's have collapsed due to failed MLG 
attachment bearings. Further analysis of the failed MLG attachment 
bearings revealed cracks which are due to fatigue.
    These conditions, if not detected and corrected, could result in 
collapse of the airplane's main landing gear during taxi or landing 
operations.

Relevant Service Information

    Socata has issued Service Bulletin No. SB 10-080 57, Amdt. 2, dated 
November 1995, which specifies procedures for repetitively inspecting 
(using a dye penetrant method) the MLG attachment bearing for cracks. 
If cracks are found in the attachment bearing, the service information 
specifies procedures for replacing the bearing.
    The DGAC classified this service bulletin as mandatory and issued 
French AD 94-266(A)R2, dated December 6, 1995, in order to assure the 
continued airworthiness of these airplanes in France.

The FAA's Determination

    These airplane models are manufactured in France and are type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and 
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed 
of the situation described above.
    The FAA has examined the findings of the DGAC; reviewed all 
available information, including the service information referenced 
above; and determined that AD action is necessary for products of this 
type design that are certificated for operation in the United States.

Explanation of the Provisions of the Proposed AD

    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop in other Socata Models TB20

[[Page 34831]]

and TB21 airplanes of the same type design registered in the United 
States, the FAA is proposing AD action. The proposed AD would require 
repetitively inspecting (using a dye penetrant method) for cracks on 
the MLG attachment bearing. If cracks are found, the proposed AD would 
require replacing the cracked attachment bearing. Accomplishment of the 
proposed inspections and replacement would be in accordance with Socata 
Service Bulletin No. SB 10-080 57, Amdt. 2, dated November 1995.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 199 airplanes in the U.S. registry would be 
affected by the proposed AD.
    Accomplishing the proposed inspection would take approximately 4 
workhours per airplane, and the average labor rate is approximately $60 
an hour. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed 
inspection on U.S. operators is estimated to be $47,760, or $240 per 
airplane.
    The proposed replacement would take approximately 1 workhour to 
replace the bearing, if necessary, at an average labor rate of $60 per 
hour. Parts cost approximately $800 per airplane. Based on these 
figures, the total cost impact of the proposed modification on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be $171,140 or $860 per airplane.
    The FAA has no way to determine the number of repetitive 
inspections that would be incurred over the life of the airplane.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this 
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) if promulgated, 
will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a 
substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation 
prepared for this action has been placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of 
it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location 
provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as 
follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

SOCATA--Groupe Aerospatiale: Docket No. 95-CE-64-AD.

    Applicability: Models TB20 and TB21 airplanes, serial numbers 1 
through 9999, certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated in the body of this AD, unless 
already accomplished.
    To prevent cracks in the main landing gear (MLG) attachment 
bearing, which could result in collapse of the MLG during taxi and 
landing operations, accomplish the following:

    Note 2: The compliance times of this AD are presented in 
landings instead of hours time-in-service (TIS). If the number of 
landings is unknown, hours TIS may be used by multiplying the number 
of hours TIS by 1.5.

    (a) Upon the accumulation of 6,000 landings, upon the 
accumulation of 4,000 hours total TIS, or within the next 100 hours 
TIS after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs later, 
inspect (with a dye penetrant method) the main landing gear (MLG) 
attachment bearing for cracks in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions in SOCATA Service Bulletin (SB) No. SB 10-080 57, Amdt. 
2, dated November 1995;
    (1) If no cracks are found, continue to inspect the MLG 
attachment bearing for cracks at intervals not to exceed 1,500 
landings or 1,000 hours TIS, whichever occurs later, until cracks 
are found, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions in the 
SOCATA SB No. SB 10-080 57, Amdt. 2, dated November 1995;
    (2) If cracks are found in the MLG attachment bearing during any 
inspection required by this AD, prior to further flight, replace the 
MLG attachment bearing in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions in the SOCATA SB No. SB 10-080 57, Amdt. 2, dated 
November 1995; and
    (3) Upon the accumulation of 6,000 landings or 4,000 hours TIS 
after the date of any MLG attachment bearing replacement, whichever 
occurs later, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,500 
landings or 1,000 hours TIS, inspect the MLG attachment bearing for 
cracks as specified in paragraph (a) of this AD.
    (b) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
Secs. 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 
21.197 and 21.199) to operate the airplane to a location where the 
requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (c) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
initial or repetitive compliance times that provides an equivalent 
level of safety may be approved by the Manager, Small Airplane 
Directorate, FAA, 1201 Walnut, suite 900, Kansas City, Missouri 
64106. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate.

    Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Small Airplane Directorate.

    (d) Questions or technical information related to Socata Service 
Bulletin No. SB 10-080 57, Amdt. 2, dated November 1995, should be 
directed the SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE, Tarbes-Ossun-Lourdes, B P 
930, 65009 Tarbes Cedex, France; telephone: 33.5.62.41.73.58; 
facsimile: 33.5.62.41.74.18; or the Product Support Manager, 
SOCATA--Groupe AEROSPATIALE, North Perry Airport, 7501 Pembroke 
Road, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33023; telephone: (954) 893-1160; 
facsimile: (954) 964-4141. This service information may be examined 
at the FAA, Central Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 
1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106.

    Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in French AD 94-
266(A)R2, dated December 6, 1995.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 19, 1998.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 98-17019 Filed 6-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P